Ailie Turton &
Sarah Manns,
University of
the West of
England,
Luke
Hampshire &
Rory
O’Connor,
University of
Leeds,
Tim Helps &
Jonathan
Rossiter,
University of
Bristol
Focus groups for co-design
of robotic trousers for
improving mobility in older
people
PREVALENCE IMPAIRED MOBILITY
• 11.6m disabled people live in
Great Britain today
• 6.5 million of them have
mobility impairments
• By 2039 more than one in
twelve of the population is
projected to be aged 80 or
over
• Office for Disability Issues, (January 2014), Disability prevalence estimates 2011/12
• http://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/popul
ationprojections/bulletins/nationalpopulationprojections/2015-10-29
Wingsuits 2006
Corset - 1890-1900
Britain, Whalebone and cotton, with
steel busk and back supports
This ventilated corset was suitable
for sports and summer wear.
EXOSKELETONS – HARD SUPPORT
n
Endurance
Spinal Cord Injury
‘A soft robotic suit has helped three people recovering
from stroke to walk better
The suit developed by a team led by Conor Walsh at
Harvard’s Wyss Institute, is made of flexible fabric that
attaches to the waist, thigh, calf and shoe. Cables
fastened to the outside of the suit can contract in the
same directions as muscles, helping to move the legs’.
Project’s overall Aim:
To develop wearable soft robotic technologies with
sophisticated sensing, actuation and control and which can be
fabricated into complete wearable assistive adaptive devices
Highly adaptable.
multi-material additive
layer fabrication – 3D
printing
compliant active structures
smart materials
Bending sensors
OBJECTIVES OF THIS STUDY:
To determine the specific needs and
perceptions of the target user groups for
soft robotic assist devices.
clinical need; 2. Easy to use; and, 3. Highly aptable.
Method
• Focus groups held at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory
• 11 Participants with impaired mobility, 5F:6M
• Research team - Engineers, Rehabilitation Physician, Medical
Student, Occupational Therapist, Qualitative researcher
• Illustrator
• Analysis - Inductive thematic analysis using NVIVO software
• Impact check
We
discussed:
Current
devices
wishes
tensions and
compromises
trust/reliability
of devices
Illustrations by Bethan Mure
USER REQUIREMENTS FOR WEARABLE SOFT
ROBOTICS
Independence
Materials
Trade-offs
Ease of
use
Thermal
comfort
appearance
Reliability
and
support
care/
washing
power
Wishes for Independence
• To walk further
• walk faster, cross roads at crossings in time and keep
up with family and friends
• walk outside alone
Ease of use:
‘It’s a deal breaker’
‘Speed is of the
essence’
Reliability and support
‘Will there be technical support?’
Materials
Flexibility of material essential for putting
garments on and off
Thermal comfort
• Ability to cool and warm in response to
external temperature and body
temperature
• breathable to avoid potential skin
irritations
Care
• All users wanted to be able to wash the core part of the
garment that has contact with the skin
• Proposal for dirt repellent fabrics was not positively
received.
Trade offs
Function vs Appearance
• Assistive garments on display/inconspicuous
• Gendered clothing, appearance options and fit with
everyday wear such as shoes.
Power vs weight and bulk
• Heavier bulkier power supply for greater
assistance
• Lighter smaller power supply for small assists

PEO: REQUIREMENTS SOFT ROBOTIC GARMENTS
Person
Environment
Wanting to be able
to walk faster and
further
Comfort in all
environments –
ambient
temperatures
Independent in
putting garments
on and off and to
toilet
Comfort
Autonomy of
control vs release
from cognitive
effort of walking
Capability to
assist with
different
terrains, steps
and kerbs
Occupation
Suitable for
walking outside
alone
All occasions –
work to weddings
Power capability
suitable for
occupational
performance –
endurance,
assistance required
IMPACT
In what ways did the
information provided
by the focus groups
participants inform
your work for this
project?
We have to demonstrate a
solution for each of the
challenges, but they should
not necessarily be merged in
a single garment, because the
requirements vary from
person to person
A large number of possible devices could be
developed that could improve the lives of
people with reduced mobility, particularly
lower power devices, which could ‘guide’ and
stiffen and which, because of their lower
power requirements, could be thinner, lighter
and more comfortable.’
OVERALL FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS
• Participants were interested in garments to provide
little assists to their mobility for daily living
• Personalisation important for engagement with robotic
garments as either rehabilitation or assistive devices
• Collaborative focus groups ensured detailed
exploration of requirements for devices.
• The voices of potential users were heard by the
engineers and provided information important for their
work
• The artist’s record provided visual notes that made it
easier to remember the points discussed during the
meeting.
Presentation by
First Name
Second Name
Job Title
Main presentation title
heading to go here
https://therighttrousers.com
With thanks to our
participants,
Illustrator - Bethan Mure,
And to the Right Trousers
team:
[email protected]
Participants with impaired mobility
F
M
20 -40
1
1
41-50
1
0
51-60
1
1
61-70
1
1
71-80
1
3
"Future of an Ageing Population" report (Government Office for Science,
2016) barriers to uptake of new technologies:
• a lack of digital and technological skills, as 79% of 65-74 year olds
had "low" or "no" internet skills in 2013
• older adults’ ambivalence towards ICT, using it for limited purposes
and only when it does not interfere in their daily lives.
• although many older people who do not use assistive technologies see
them as being of tremendous potential benefit to other older people,
they are less willing to contemplate them as options for themselves
• many older adults perceive ICT to be a luxury and are reluctant to
spend money on items that need continual updates and maintenance
• many older adults fear that using ICT will have a negative effect on
their sense of privacy and personal security, with choice, control, and
fear of reduced social interaction being key concerns for older people
considering assisted living technologies and telecare
• accessibility issues with some types of technology, and furthermore
perceptions of accessibility